NSU is one of only five university bands selected from a total of 2,800 bands that applied. The rest of the 50 bands marching in the parade are military bands or professional ensembles.

Playing in the parade will help Northern State “kind of get our name out there and show what we have to offer,” said junior Callie Marlette, a trumpet player from Gettysburg.

The pace has been hectic since the Marching Wolves learned Dec. 18 that they had been selected for the parade.

“The first thing was we had to get everybody registered with the Secret Service. And that was due by Jan. 1,” said NSU associate band director Terry Beckler, a percussion professor. “So we had to get ahold of everybody while they were on vacation, get them to log into a website and submit a picture and other personal information.”

Beckler also has been busy with room lists, airline manifests and passenger lists. He spent part of this week weighing the band’s instruments. The charter flight requested the information to make sure the flight is not overloaded, and the data also was needed for insurance purposes.

Junior Abby Klumb, a clarinet player from Parkston, said she looks forward to one simple thing Monday: “Seeing the president wave at us when we’re marching.”